Barabbas
Open Your Bible
Matthew 27:15-31, Acts 3:1-16
BY Erin Davis
The crowds were right: somebody needs to pay. We all want justice, and the craving for it is a righteous one. Sin cannot go unpunished, “for the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23).
In Matthew 27 we read the account of Jesus and Barabbas, two men paraded before an angry crowd under the watchful eye of Pontius Pilate. A strange custom was unfolding; mob mentality was both judge and jury. Given the choice between two prisoners, the crowds got to decide who walked away a free man.
Barabbas was guilty, and no one was denying it. His crimes were “notorious,” widely known (Matthew 27:16). Jesus, on the other hand, was innocent. Still the crowds looked at Him and screamed, “Crucify him!” (v.22). They were not blind to Barabbas’s guilt—they simply failed to recognize their own. Spiritual blindness kept them from seeing how much they needed the Savior standing right in front of them.
“You denied the Holy and Righteous One
and asked to have a murderer released to you.
You killed the source of Life,
whom God raised from the dead;
we are witnesses of this” (Acts 3:14–15).
The crowds allowed the guilty man to walk in freedom. Is this ringing any bells? We are all Barabbas. All of us “have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). When it comes to sin, we’re guilty, notorious sinners who cannot stand against the holy scrutiny of God.
Though I’d love to read this passage and villainize Barabbas, I can’t, not really. He is the poster child for the good news, a symbol of the atonement Jesus made for us all. True, Barabbas was guilty, but there’s no use in pointing fingers. In one way or another, we are all guilty.
For soon after Jesus took Barabbas’s place before the crowds, He took our place at Calvary. This is the gospel! Jesus chose the cross. He walked toward it willingly so that the guilty—like Barabbas, like you, like me—could be spared the punishment we deserve and walk away in freedom.
37 thoughts on "Barabbas"
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Love the reminder that we all are Barabas
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Wow this was so good. This reading gave me a new perspective on these scriptures!!!
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I love how this study is pulling out scriptures I’ve read so many times before, but shedding fresh light on them. I’ve been intentionally asking Jesus to illuminate the Word, to reveal truth and to help me glean wisdom. For the first time, I’m really seeing myself in these accounts. I am Barabbas! I am the angry mob! And Jesus is still Jesus, never changing, always looking at us with love and compassion. His steadfastness is shown all the more as I realize my own wavering, and I cling to Him all the more. And I love reading all of your responses on here, to see what spoke to you and see new insights I may otherwise have missed. Love this forum!
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So Barabbas’ first name was Jesus.
“Quite literally, Pilate asks the crowd if they want Jesus, the son of a father, or Jesus, the son of the Father.
This is the kind of stuff that sticks in people’s minds. If you’re teaching a Bible study or preaching a sermon, you can guarantee people will remember this question: “Which Jesus do you want?”
This wouldn’t be the first time people chose the wrong Jesus. Throughout history, Christians have made Jesus into who they want him to be. We often choose a Jesus that looks a bit more like us: physically, politically, ideologically. The crowd that day did the same, and wound up murdering the person who loves them the most.”
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Wow
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Yesterday I was busy and unable to respond to post but I want to respond to Bessie H. and Angela Sutherland, Johnny Paycheck has a song called “The Outlaw’s Prayer”. Everytime I hear it I cry. The message in it is so true. LeAnn Schmitt, I too long to know and one day we will know. Momtomany, thanks for the information that is great to know. Anna, I can see that too. NanaK, I will proclaim that with you loud and clear. Lindsay C., I never even thought of it like that.
Tina, tears flow while I read it.
Churchmouse, your words speak volumes and say what many can’t. Thank you.
Leann Schmitt, is that part of a song, those words are beautiful.
Sue, I have always wonder that same thing. We will only know when we get to Heaven.
Lindsay C. , you have made a good point.
Angie, wow what you write almost everyday enlightens my knowledge and love of God, Christ and the Holy Spirit.
Amen, Mari V., Maura, amen. -
I agree with you Cyndi so grateful for the comments written each day by such Godly women. ❤️ I learn every day in these teachings and often re-write and meditate on their words in my journal to stay focused on the light in such dark times.
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